Staircase landing lo-hei

Shan had a staircase landing cookout this Lunar New Year. Its just next to her unit and its fairly spaceious and realatively quiet so it was perfect for a party. This first time she had one of these parties was back in 2003 on her birthday(I remember it so well cos her family's former domestic helper who made these incrdible hamburger beef patties that till today I still have very fond memories of).


Melissa flipping burgers

The main item for the party were Ramly burgers patties that Shan bought from JB (I found out later that they were ment for a suprise birthday party for me but didn't happen cos I had a reservist recall on the day, no thanks to operation North Star)

I brought along my new deep-frier to make onion rings

Ok here is how you make the perfect Ramly burger(though not entirely authentic, but sure is good)

Step 1:Grill some patties

Step 2:Grill some buns

Step 3:Add BBQ sauce and mayo

Step 4:Slap on some caramelised onions and cucumber

Step 5:Top with a fried egg

Step 6:Top with the other half of the bun and take a picture with it

Step 7:Take a bite!

When the time came to toss the Yu Sheng, some of us chanted all the good luck chants and wishes like "good health, more proseprity" towards the end of the toss there were some unconventional requests like "bigger breast, more sex, new car".

There was some gambling...
Some party games...

A lot of tobacco...
And those that didn't play mahjong went bowling. Sombody call the fashion police!

Christmas came really early this year...

Walking into the kitchen tonight I saw the most surreal thing on top of the fridge.

Fusion Tapas

After a pretty good blind date yesterday I ended up with the rest of the gang at The Wine Connection at Robertson Walk. They were earlier at a wedding that had served them insufficient food so after a bit of wine everyone was beginning to have the munchies. We had a cheese platter but that was for barely enough for us so we asked for another but they said that they have ran out of cheese so I got one of the jars of antipasto that they sold. It was of grilled peppers soaked in olive oil. It would be perfect to have with bread. Sadly they had ran out of bread too so I headed to a nearby booth that sold snacks and bought some calbee prawn crackers. They didn't really soak up the olive oil so I walked down to 7-11 to get some bread. On the way back I picked up some prata. The prata wasn't very absorbent either as it was a little greasy but it tasted pretty interesting with the peppers.

We later went to Home where there was a Poptart gig going on. It was good but I can't help feeling old in that crowd. Some skinny guys were bodysurfing. I wonder how long I could be held up for before everyone buckles under my weight. The night ended with beer being spilt on Shan (they have pretty absorbent curtains there), me screaming out New Order's 'Regret', singing along to Catatonia's 'Road Rage' in the car and a massive headache from too much smoking.

Boil the dog

Rainbow Roti Jala

I have always wanted to make roti jala and my wish finally came true when Syareena suggested making it for my birthday party. Preparations started 2 days before on Thursday night when I went to get groceries from Mustafas at 12 am after work. Close by Mustafa's I met Arthur and Chris who were having beers at a coffeeshop before shopping for stuff for their Bollywood-themed office party. But before I could get started on my shopping Arthur dragged us along to the basement to buy a tumble drier as the recent wet weather has been making it impossible to get clothes completely dry. I was hoping on getting home soon to start preparations so I could start cooking before work the next day but that didn't happen because we ended up having dim sum and beer at a nearby coffeeshop till about 3.30am. So I took half a day off the next day to cook some of the curries to go with the roti jala. I was pooped by the time I was done cooking the chickpea masala, chicken curry and paneer with peppers, and the kitchen was in a very bad state. But I had to leave for the office so I caught a cab to the office. In the cab I scratched my chin and could immediately smell my fingers that reeked of the copious amount of garlic and onions that I had to peel and chop. It was really bad. And work was a bitch cos of the friday rush with sub editors breathing down my neck. I didn't manage to clean the kitchen when i got back and did most of the cleaning the next morning.

The first time I had roti jala at Syareena's house, it came in a rainbow of colours. Now almost 9 years later she is at it again-going overboard with food colouring. First timers at making roti jala were Sheila and Rehan, who got into the technicalities and figured out the the technique for near perfect roti jala. Amran however seemed like a roti jala natural. I started making martinis with my Mustafa's bought cocktail shaker and just two drinks immediately turned Syareena into a generally funny but sardonic jester spewing somewhat crude jokes that should have been kept far from the dinner table. The chicken curry was a hit, though i didn't get any squeals of extacy from anyone regarding the chickpea curry or the fish curry. Oh well, you win some u lose some.

We finally made it out of the house for Velvet at about 11 plus. After having countless martinis at home and 1 can of beer in the car, I still didn't feel particularly tanked up. The jugs of watered down bourbon coke that I got at Velvet didn't help either but I got pretty sloshed from more beer and martinis. I think I have turned Herda into a monster. I dared her to pinch the butt of a bouncer who had his back to us. She did it without any hesitation, but what was even stranger was the reaction of the bouncer. I think he took a while to react. Mebbe he thought I did it. He took a step away from us. A minute later he was a meter further. A little while later he was gone. Perhaps he had to cry in the little boys room.

When I was done drinking for the night, Sheila's friend Tommy bought me a jog of vodka spritzer which I tried very hard to finish out of courtesy especially because i barely even knew the guy for 15 minutes and here he is buying me a drink. What ever was in the drink, it got me pretty wasted and in the cab back I was suprised at how slurred my speech was when I was giving the cab driver directions...(I found out later that it was a double vodka spritzer. i am having a pretty bad hangover now btw)

I think I can compartmentalise almost everyone from this party...., Rehan and Sheila the roti jala technicians, Rama and Farah the martini engineers, Syareena the in house jester(fuelled by a steady flow of Martinis of course), Amran the wonderful helper, Herda the groper, Chris the unassuming dishwasher, Arthur the 'mood setter'. Mebbe the next party there will be a reversal of roles or somthing.

Cooking with a five year old

My sister who is in Singapore to visit brought along her husband and their offspring, Sahari. He likes to get involved in grown up things sometimes so I roped him in to help me cook dinner. He wasn't much help but I took the day off from being the kitchen nazi and was nice to the little critter as he was actually quite sweet by wanting to assist me. He was the official food taster, pasta stirrer and chicken baster. He kept saying "mmmm... smells good, I can't wait to eat it" and "is the chicken done yet?". It was just too cute.


The artist with his brush

Not done to perfection, there was actually quite a lot of blood next to the bone.

Pity they are going back soon. I wonder if I would be able to make Sahari kitchen diva junior if I had more time to train him.

First meal of the year

My mother who is away right now insisted that I to go to the temple first thing in the morning today as its my Hindu birthday according to the Hindu calendar. Getting out of bed with a slight hangover, I showered then took a cab down to the Kaliamman temple in Serangoon Road. I was hoping to finish praying as soon as I could so that I could have breakfast at Komala Vilas, but to my horror saw the temple packed with fellow worshippers. Perhaps I wasn't the only birthday boy.


After almost an hour in the crowded temple I head towards the side where temple volunteers were serving lemon rice and spiced buttermilk.

I was hoping to have brunch at nearby Komala Vilas for a greasy masala thosai but this was a healthier and immediate alternative. And since it was from the temple I guess it was good to have a "holy" meal first thing in the year. I was really hungry and the carbs were just what I needed for my hangover. It was perfect-nicely spiced, not too oily or tart and loaded with crunchy nuts and dhal.


My belly was satisfied, but not my greed...left the temple and walked down to Komala Vilas and ordered a masala thoasai to go...then I saw the stack of Indian sweets at the counter. I remember being in India on New Year's day years back when I walked into an Indian candy shop to buy a little gift box back to Singapore. The locals were buying everything by the kilogram... it was scary to think how they were going to ingest all that sugar. I don't usually buy sweetmeats but since its New Year's day I thought I might as well get a ball of ladoo and a few slices of barfi for the fun of it.